After losing your job, you may not know what your next steps should be, but there are certain best practices to get back into the job market. Here are nine steps to overcome job loss:

Losing a job can make you feel a range of emotions. You might feel sad, disappointed, or confused, all of which are completely normal. It's important to understand how you feel about the loss so you can move forward properly later. More than just knowing how you feel, try to understand why you feel that way. Ask yourself if you are experiencing other emotions, such as relief. If you feel some relief along with your sadness, it might be because your professional obligations didn’t allow you to achieve a work/life balance. Job loss doesn’t have to be an inherently bad experience. Instead, it can be a time to process what happened and seek an opportunity that suits you better.

As you process your feelings, you may find comfort and emotional support through friends and family. You might feel the need to talk about what happened, and your loved ones are usually the best at listening and being there for you during this time. If you financially support your family, consider talking with them about your job loss and how it might affect their lives, whether it’s maintaining the family budget or needing to cut unnecessary expenses.

One of the first things you may worry about after job loss is your finances. With any job loss, you can usually expect your household income to decrease, but there are ways not to feel the impact so deeply. As soon as possible, check how you will receive unemployment benefits. The details and qualifications usually vary. You might also want to take part-time jobs or some freelance work as you try to find the next full-time opportunity.

If you worked in an office with a lot of people, it’s likely your circle of friends included your colleagues. When you work with the same people on a regular basis, it’s common to form bonds when you coordinate on projects and share your concerns during a tough day. When you no longer have your job, you may also end up losing these relationships. However, there are ways to create valuable connections with others that aren’t based on working in the same place.

After a job loss, consider taking some time for yourself to explore new interests and return to your old hobbies. There might be something you once loved doing but didn’t have time to indulge in recently. Renewing your hobbies gives you the chance to enjoy an activity that’s unrelated to work. This could be the ideal time to read, hike, create a more relaxed routine, or attend classes in subjects that enrich and interest you, such as photography, painting, or learning a new language. Ultimately, spending time on yourself is a way to take care of yourself, so try to eat right, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep. Practicing healthy habits can help you stay active and in the right mindset to find a new job.

Now is the perfect time to decide what kind of job you want to pursue next. If the job loss made you realize that your previous job wasn’t right for you because you worked long hours, were too stressed, or had to work individually when you’re more of a team player, you can use this time to discover your ideal work environment. This might mean finding a new workplace whose culture aligns a bit better with your values, or it could mean pursuing a new career path.

Once you have an idea of your next step, reach out to your connections and see if their workplace is hiring for a role that would be perfect for you. This same contact can also write a recommendation letter and formally refer you to the role. Visit professional social media networks and job websites.

By updating your resume, you can present your work from previous roles to a hiring manager. You can place your resume on a website, prepare a presentation, or even print your notable work and include copies of it. You can also create a portfolio; these are a great way to show your actual achievements to employers beyond just listing them as bullet points on your resume.

Sometimes the best way to deal with job loss is to pursue a new one. If you’ve taken some time to think about the type of position you want, you should start by narrowing your choices to a more specific field of work. However, applying for jobs can take some time. Try making a search and application plan, which could include how many job applications you will submit in a week or committing to spending only a certain amount of time each day looking for something new. 

The application process can also be daunting, but breaking the process down into manageable steps can make it easier to handle. If the job search doesn’t yield the results you want, consider reassessing your goals and possibly changing your approach.